TdS Cyclists To Pass By Solok Selatan District

Padang Aro, (Antara Sumbar) - The West Sumatra Provincial District head of Solok Selatan, Muzni Zakaria was optimistic that cyclists of the Tour de Singkarak international bike race (TdS) 2017 will pass by the Solok Selatan.

"Yes, TdS (cyclists will pass by Solok Selatan) on Nov.22," Zakaria said in the West Sumatra's capital of Padang on Sunday night (12/11).

The 5th stage will start from Bareh Terminal of the Solok city and will finish at the office of the Solok Selatan District head which covers 153.2 kilometers.

Currently the repair work of the national road toward Solok Selatan continue to be pursued, he said.

The damaged road in the Solok Selatan caused the cyclists failed to pass by the District in the TdS 2016.

Earlier, the West Sumatra deputy governor, Nasrul Abit urged the concerned parties to complete road improvements prior to starting the TdS on Nov.18, 2017.

Abit expressed hope that there will be no cancellation of the planned stages due to the road condition.

The TdS organizing committee has provided the total prize of Rp3 billion for the overall champion.

To help highlight the TdS, the Solok Selatan District will organize the first ever festival of 1 thousand Rumah Gadang (traditional houses) or the long houses (SRG).

"We will improve it every year, so that it matches up to the Banyuwangi carnival and Lake Toba festival," Zakaria noted in Padang, recently.

The SRG festival will be held in the SRG area located in Nagara Koto Barum Sungai Pagu Sub-district, South Solok District.

A total of 20 teams from 30 countries are expected to participate in the TdS 2017.

TdS 2017, the ninth of its kind, will take place from Nov. 18 to 26, 2017, postponed from the previously planned date from Oct 10 to 18.

Out of 20 teams, 15 teams are foreign ones and the rest are cyclists grouped in five national teams. (*)